Photography Thread

Wheelspinner

masjer said:

That sounds like a plan. I'd still try a higher iso if you get no joy at 400.
I fancy trying the same sometime.
Good luck.

Oh, when you set it to manual focus and get it focussed, don't change back to auto focus. Does your lens have an infinity setting? If so, that might work too, without having to focus on a planet.

Can be an issue with some lenses... I have a couple of manual focus only ones which are capable of really sharp images, *but* the "infinity" marker is wrong on both. Just winding the focus out till it hits the stop doesn't work.

Astro photo on Sony cameras in particular can be an issue with some series.

@Pross - have a look in the menu system and see if there's a setting for "Long Exposure Noise Reduction" and if there is, try switching that off. Sony cameras had a reputation a while ago for that setting basically ruining astro photography as the system randomly decided that the faint stars were really just noise and it was wiping them... I think they've fixed it to some extent in current models.

I'd also suggest a much higher ISO if you can get away with it than 400, and limiting the exposure time. That will reduce the "star trail" effect - even 30 seconds is enough for the earth rotation to show up and blur the images on a good high-resolution camera and lens.

pblakeney

My thoughts. Use Manual mode at f8 for sharpness at 1/125 to stop motion*, auto ISO and -1 exposure compensation. Focus manually. Those markers are rough at best.
Take a shot and look.
Too bright, -2 compensation. Still too bright, increase speed.
Too dark, lower f-stop until minimum then reduce speed.

*You will gain a new perspective about how fast this planet rotates when looking at astro photography. 1/125 may well not be fast enough.

masjer

One other thing, use a 2 second timer delay on the shutter. With a long exposure, you don't want to introduce any movement.

rjsterry

masjer said:

I'm no expert, but I'd leave the ISO set as high as possible (with acceptable amount of noise). I think 30 seconds exposure will be too long, (hence the high ISO) as the rotation of the Earth will blur the stars at 30".
I think you'll need to manually focus. You could just set the focus on the moon or a star to make it easier.

Is the focus not going to just be at infinity? I think most auto focus systems rely on edges that they can 'resolve' and stars are just too small for that to work.

pblakeney

If you simply rotate the focussing to the furthest point you will discover that lenses have a focus point past infinity.
No, it doesn’t make sense but that’s what happens and may very well explain out of focus shots.

briantrumpet

Been meaning to take this angle for ages, and the sun & clouds today gave just the right conditions, and the composition worked out quite nicely. I still remember the first time I rode down this gentle descent with a tailwind over ten years ago, and it's still just as much fun, especially when most of the holidaymakers have gone home and left the roads to the locals and some chap from Exeter.

Pross

I managed to get a focus on whichever planet it is burning brightly in the east at the moment and took some test shots last night. I did ISO 1600 and 6400at 30” exposure and also in bulb mode for 50”. I’d previously read some stuff that said longer exposures help as it makes the stars appear larger. They can be pinpricks at shorter settings. The other method I read to get stars to appear larger is shorter exposures then stacking them but I don’t know how to do that. Even the longer bulb mode exposure didn’t give trails. ISO 6400 was a bit overexposed but that was possibly due to too much foreground lighting (the caravan next to us had lights on). 1600 looked OK but 3200 would probably have been perfect.

The Milky Way effect wasn’t as prominent to the naked eye as it was on Friday night, possibly due to there more lights on around the caravan site but it is visible on all the shots. Unfortunately my card reader doesn’t fit the lightning socket on my new phone so can’t upload until I get home on Wednesday and the composition was boring as it was just a shot of the trees and sky I could see from the decking. I’m hoping for another clear night as I have a subject in my head that I’m hoping to take a drive to capture with the stars behind.

Oh, and I’m using a remote trigger which overcomes the need for a timer.

pblakeney

Not sure if this is what you are looking for but for reference, 18mm (full frame), ISO 6400, -2.3EV, f3.5, 10 seconds.

rjsterry

Interesting that there is noticeable movement blurring visible towards the edges of the frame even at such a relatively short exposure

pblakeney

rjsterry said:

Interesting that there is noticeable movement blurring visible towards the edges of the frame even at such a relatively short exposure

Yup. Must be remembered that this planet is revolving at roughly 1,000 mph at the equator. 😉

pblakeney

briantrumpet said:

Haha, he shouldn't have given me a nonchalant "Bonjour" as he passed with what looked like a little too much effort...

In a similar vein, I really inadvertently pissed off this guy (taken while catching him) who was "blowing" by giving a ciao, taking out my phone to take a shot*, and drop him. I know exactly how he felt. Having a hard time while somebody else is on a good day just screws the knife.

*A contre-jour shot that didn't work.

briantrumpet

pblakeney said:

briantrumpet said:

Haha, he shouldn't have given me a nonchalant "Bonjour" as he passed with what looked like a little too much effort...

In a similar vein, I really inadvertently pissed off this guy (taken while catching him) who was "blowing" by giving a ciao, taking out my phone to take a shot*, and drop him. I know exactly how he felt. Having a hard time while somebody else is on a good day just screws the knife.

If one does that, you have to know that you can make it stick, and have the confidence not to keep looking back over your shoulder.

The flip-side of that is knowing when someone is stronger than you, and letting them get away rather than screw up your entire ride by trying to keep up with them. You can normally tell by the ease with which they pass you. I know it'll get more frequent as I get older.

I'm probably more likely to take a photo of the stronger ones, if it's in a scenic spot... just keep up long enough to get a snap or two, then let them go.

pblakeney

Oh, I have no trouble at all at letting faster riders go.
This gets more frequent with age. 😉

Pross

Masjer territory today and a rare chance for the Wolf to have a run off the lead.

masjer

Right, so where's that then? It looks like Sandy Haven to me.
Wolfie looks like he's enjoying himself.

Pross

Yeah Sandy Haven. Never been there before but it was fantastic, loads of beach at low tide and hardly any people on a warm, sunny Bank Holiday. Luckily we got the far side of the beach to ourselves after a while so I got to let him off for a change.

Interesting beach with the concrete fort and the industrial bits of Milford Haven just visible (although no easy to see in my wide angle shots).

pblakeney

Last two from my reality escape, and the first one is just for context taken on the flattish section before the climb of the Mortirolo. Back to reality from here. 😭

Pross

One from my phone, got a few more on my camera but can’t upload until I get home. The sun didn’t quite set in the ideal position, it would have been better if it had been closer to the castle or if there had been some cloud over there to absorb the colour but I got a decent sunset and high tide so can’t complain.

briantrumpet

Ha, a photo of the three cycling friends who are here this week, in team jerseys and nicely lined up for a shot I thought of a few miles before, so I cycled on ahead to get myself in place. In fact, it turned out nothing like I had imagined, as I hadn't realised how tiny they'd look in situ, but I actually like the way it emphasises the scale of the scenery. It's fun when you've only got one or two chances to get a good shot you have in mind... this was the only take.

pblakeney

Love it when a plan comes together!

Ben6899

PAG EHT DNIM



Aperture: f/8
Focal length: 9.1mm
Shutter: 1/6
ISO400

I know - same as the Ferrari shot - I just pulled the camera out of my pocket in a rush and hoped the settings were appropriate! I generally always shoot in ISO400, btw. I find it a nice balance between getting results that look too artificial (100) and too noisy (3200+). Don't get me wrong, it depends what look/feel you're aiming for as well.

Ben6899

(don't mind me; I'll just keep throwing in the odd abstract piece)

pblakeney

Ben6899 said:

(don't mind me; I'll just keep throwing in the odd abstract piece)

Don't be silly.
Carry on.

Ben6899

pblakeney said:

Ben6899 said:

(don't mind me; I'll just keep throwing in the odd abstract piece)

Don't be silly.
Carry on.

I plan to!

masjer

Ben6899 said:

PAG EHT DNIM

I just pulled the camera out of my pocket in a rush and hoped the settings were appropriate!.

There's more going on than that, but I've not worked out what.

Tashman

Salt Beds


A few from a week away last week in Fuertaventura that I liked outside of the family snaps

rjsterry

briantrumpet

It has to be this one tonight:



Had to use the panoramic mode to get both ends.

rjsterry

Spectacular sunset out of the train window. Not remotely accurately captured by my phone.

Pross

rjsterry said:

They could do with you informing them about insulation and being heat efficient!